Vaillant Group and Fiege take up operations at Rhine-Ruhr Logistics Center

Neuss, July 6, 2009 – Functional and cutting-edge perfectly describes the new Rhine-Ruhr Logistics Centre which was officially opened in Neuss/Germany today by the Fiege Group and the Vaillant Group. The relevance of what is currently the largest project of the logistics provider Fiege from Greven for the logistical location of North Rhine Westphalia is also reflected by the interest shown by political representatives: The Minister of the Economy, Christa Thoben, opened the event.

"We are proud of this logistics centre, whose cutting-edge technology sets a positive signal for the entire logistics industry", emphasised Dr. Hugo Fiege, chairman of the executive board of Fiege Stiftung & Co. KG. "Especially in difficult economic times the goal is to set signs that indicate that the bottom has been reached and things are back on the way up in our industry." Ralf-Otto Limbach, managing director of the Vaillant Group, explained: "As one of the world's foremost market and technology leaders for energy efficient heating systems we are also setting new standards in our industry within logistics. Orders can be handled much faster and more efficiently than in the past. The Vaillant Group benefits from this on the one hand; and the distribution partners from the wholesale market and the specialised trade on the other."

Joint Venture between the Vaillant Group and Fiege
The largest client of the multi-user centre, taking up over half of the available space, is TechnoCargo Logistik (TCL), a joint venture between the Vaillant Group and Fiege. So far, TCL organised all supply chain flows for the products of the Vaillant Group as well as further customers of this industry in Hilden. However, due to the rise in the workload and volume to be processed by TCL, the property had become too small so that the Rhine-Ruhr Logistics Center offered a perfect alternative to the former location, also due to its proximity.

Optimal supply chain flows in Neuss
The Vaillant Group, as the largest customer of TCL, benefits from the optimised supply chain processes at the new location. Orders can be handled much faster and logistical expenses could be lowered. Also, the Neuss logistics centre offers state-of-the-art storage options for products based on regenerative energies, such as solar thermal and photovoltaic units as well as heat pumps, products that are all becoming increasingly important for the business of the Vaillant Group. A further customer at the Rhine-Ruhr logistics centre is Imation, a leading American, global manufacturer and supplier of storage media.

Well thought-through hall concept
With the hall measuring 522 metres in length and 160 metres in width, the logistics centre has over 83,500 square metres of warehouse and logistics space in addition to more than 5,000 square metres for offices and recreational areas, and was built at a total investment of around Euro 80 million. A workshop for trucks and cars as well as a petrol station, which also offers Bio Diesel and vegetable oil, complements the supply chain facility. And even the conservation of nature was taken into consideration - as is the case for all major centres of this kind - in line with the Fiege Group's Eco-Logistics policy: Rain water is returned to the ground directly on site through seepage with the help of special trench systems. An emergency overflow system on the building's roof secures the hall against strong rainfalls. The rain water is led away without causing static or construction issues.




Further information:
The Fiege Group, headquartered in Greven/Germany, is among Europe's leading logistics providers. Its competence lies in particular in the development and realisation of integrated, holistic supply chain systems. The Group has a workforce of around 21,100 world-wide. 230 branches and co-operations based in 18 countries form a dense supply-chain network.
The Group generated sales of Euro 1.8 billion in 2007. 3.1 million square metres in warehouse and logistics space are proof of the company's efficiency.

The Vaillant Group is an internationally-operating company headquartered in Remscheid, Germany which is active within heating, ventilation and A/C technology. As one of the world's market and technology leaders the Vaillant Group engineers and produces customised products, systems and services for a comfortable life. The product portfolio extends from efficient heating devices based on conventional energy sources, to system solutions aimed at using sustainable forms of energy. During the financial year 2008 the company, which has been family-owned since its foundation in 1874, generated sales worth around Euro 2.4 billion with roughly 13,000 employees.

Picture download: Please download the press picture here.
Caption: Christa Thoben, Minister of the Economy of Northrhine-Westfalia (centre), Vaillant Group Managing Director Ralf-Otto Limbach (second to the left) and Dr Hugo Fiege (left) as well as Heinz Fiege (right), Chairmen of of the executive board of Fiege Stiftung & Co. KG, Gregor Suwelack, Managing Director of TechnoCargo Logistik (second to the right), inaugurated the new logistics centre in Neuss.



Contact:

Dr. Jens Wichtermann
Head of Corporate Communications
Vaillant Group
42850 Remscheid
Telephone: +49(0) 2191 - 18 27 54
Mobile: +49(0) 175 - 295 18 10
Fax: +49(0) 2191 - 18 28 95
Email: jens.wichtermann@vaillant.de